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Food

Part of a nation's history lies in what people eat. Artifacts at the Museum document the history of food in the United States from farm machinery to diet fads.

More than 1,300 pieces of stoneware and earthenware show how Americans have stored, prepared, and served food for centuries. Ovens, cookie cutters, kettles, aprons, and ice-cream-making machines are part of the collections, along with home canning jars and winemaking equipment. More than 1,000 objects recently came to the Museum when author and cooking show host Julia Child donated her entire kitchen, from appliances to cookbooks.

Advertising and business records of several food companies—such as Hills Brothers Coffee, Pepsi Cola, and Campbell's Soup—represent the commercial side of the subject

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

This Cookie King was manufactured by Nordic Ware during the early 1960s. The Cookie King is used to make spritzgebäck, a Scandinavian cookie traditionally made around Christmastime, by pushing dough through a variety of nozzles to form different shapes. The Cookie King is an example of Nordic Ware’s early cookware that was made to appeal to Minnesota’s large Scandinavian population.

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

Nordic Ware manufactured this French gaufrette iron during the 1950s. The iron’s two parts are hinged together, with handles extending from the opposite end. After preheating the iron, the rich, buttery dough is spooned onto one of the interior surfaces. The iron is closed and returned to the heat, then turned over to allow even baking. Because the interior surfaces of the iron are scored, a waffle-like texture is imparted to the wafers.

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

Nordic Ware manufactured this crepe pan in the 1950s. This pan resembles an inverted frying pan, with a non-stick convex surface that is dipped in the crepe batter and placed on the stove to cook. The pan is in its original box, which features a description of crepes, as well as several crepe recipes. This information would have been essential for many American cooks in the 1950s and 1960s who would have been unfamiliar with these very thin French pancakes.

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

This Mexican Kitchen Cookware Set was manufactured by Nordic Ware in 1982. The set consists of three items: an aluminum tortilla press with a sun design, a taco maker including a wire basket to shape the tacos, and a cup shell former that holds down and shapes tortillas as they fry. This Mexican cookware set was part of Nordic Ware’s “International Specialties” line, developed to meet expanding customer interest in cuisines from different cultures. The cookware came with a set of recipes.

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

This rosette-timbale set was made by Nordic Ware during the early 1950s. The rosette is a light, deep-fried cookie often served coated with powdered sugar. This set’s dual-pronged handle allows two cookies to be fried at once. This rosette-timbale set is an example of Nordic Ware’s early cookware that was made and marketed to appeal to Minnesota’s large Scandinavian population.

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

The Bundt cake pan has been one of Nordic Ware’s most popular products. Introduced in 1950, it was America’s best-selling specialty cake pan by 1960. This cathedral Bundt pan is modeled after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The pan was produced in the early 2000s as part of Nordic Ware’s line of unusual and creatively shaped Bundt pans.

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.

This card table tray was manufactured by Nordic Ware in the 1950s. It consists of two cup holders, a food container, and an ashtray. The tray could be attached to a card table, providing a convenient place for snacking during a card game or other activity.